Rep. Erik Paulsen has faced mounting pressure for his refusal to hold public town halls over the past 6 years. While Paulsen has been MIA in the district, he’s given plenty of face time to his special interest friends. In his latest fundraising report, Paulsen surpassed $8 million in PAC contributions taken over the course of his career.
Given Paulsen has alienated his constituents by voting with President Trump 97 percent of the time in Washington, he’s clearly relying on Vice President Mike Pence, conservative special interests and PACs to boost his re-election campaign.
“One look at Erik Paulsen’s fundraising shows a bought-and-paid for politician who’s sold out to the highest bidder,” said DCCC Spokesperson Rachel Irwin. “Given his abysmal grassroots support, Erik Paulsen should spend less time courting his Washington donors and spend more time in Minnesota listening to the people he was elected to represent.”
- While Paulsen talks up his independence, his record of voting 97 percent of the time with President Trump has earned him more than $50,000 from Vice President Pence’s PAC. Vice President Mike Pence proudly declared that “Congressman Paulsen has been fighting everyday shoulder to shoulder with President Trump” after a fundraiser.
- Less than 3 percent of Paulsen’s latest fundraising comes from small-dollar donors. A clear indicator that Minnesotans are not buying his record of voting to raise their healthcare costs or give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy at the expense of the middle class.
- Paulsen has taken more than $1 million from PHARMA and voted to raise healthcare costs.
- Paulsen has taken more than $100,000 from the oil and gas industry while voting their way in Congress.
- Paulsen has taken more than $21,000 from the NRA while voting against gun-safety measures and refusing to attend student-led town halls in the district.